Socket for incandescent electric lamps



0. KROEHLE.

SOCKET FOR INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, I921.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

0. KROEHLE.

SOCKET FOR I'NCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17. 1921.

1 86,412, Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

.Tnkenfor' um'rs u sures PATENT ()FFKIE.

OSCAR KROEHLE, 01' LAKEWOOD, OHIO.

SOGKET ron INCAnnEsCEN'r ELECTRIC LAMPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921.

Application filed February" 17, 1921. Serial No. 445,777.

wood, lathe countybf Cuy'ahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a newand useful Socket for incandescentElect ic Lamps, of

which the following is a specification;

This'inventio-n relatesto improvements in sockets for incandescentelectric lamps,- and more especially to a socket of the characterindicated which is adapted" to be rendered rigid with a casingadapted'to extend circumfere'ntially of an incandescent electric lampapplied to the socket for illuminating a signal lens or sign'with whichsaid casing is provided after the application of said lamp to thesocket.

One object of this" invention is-to so construct and apply the socketthat not only is said casing adapted tobe applied to the rear portion ofa rear fender of a motor-vehicle, but that an arrangement ofisaidcasingin desirable proximity to said fender is permitted.

Another object is to-ha-ve the contacts or terminals of the socket andthe contacts or terminals of the baseof a lamp connected to th socketadequately protected against the weather and against injury, and to exclude dust and dirt from said contacts or terminals.

Another object is-not only'to produce ashort socket ofthecharacter'indicated and to protect the contacts of the socket by a removable cap,but to'have the construction of the socket such that said" cap requireslittle room for 'det-achingit'from or applying it to the body; of thesocket. I

Another object isto facilitate the assemblage of the component partsofthe socket, and to render the socket simple'and durable in construction,reliable in theperformance of its functions, and not liable to get outof order.

lVith these objects 'in'vievv, and to attain any other objecthereinafter appearing, this invention consists in'=certai nm'eritoriousfeatures' of construction, and combinations and relativearrange'mentsjof "parts, hereinafter" described inthis'fsp'ecification', pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In said drawi'ngs, Figure" 1 is a vertical section taken through aportion of a rear fender of a motor-vehicle and shows said fenderprovided with a bracket from which is supported a lamp-socket embodyingmy inventIQIL Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken along the l1ne'2 2,Fig. 1. Fig. Sis a View which, 1n the maln, is a horizontal sectiontaken along the line 38, Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a vertical section, indetail, taken along the line f14l, Fig. Fig. 5 is a view correspondlngwlth F 1g. 4, except as to the position of the movable part illustratedin Figs. 4 and 5. F 1g. 6 1s a vertical section, in detail, taken alongthe line 6-6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sec tion taken along the line 77, Fig.6. Fig. 8 is a section taken along the curved line 88, Fig. 6. Fig. 9 isa section taken centrally through my improved lamp-socket without thecap for the socket. Fig. 10 is a section taken along the line 10-10,Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line 11-11, Fig. 10. Figs.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10 and 11 are drawn on a larger scale than Figs. 1, 2and 3.

Referring to F igs. 1 and 3 ofsaid drawlngs, 15 indicates-therear'portion of a rear metal fender of, a motor-vehicle, and 16 (Fig. 1)indicates a metal bracket projecting rearwardly and upwardly in relationto and supported from said fender. A metal casing 17 is'supported fromsaid bracket and extends farther from the bracket in the direction ofthe fender 15 than in the opposite direction. Said casing isconsiderably larger in diameter at its outer end than at its inner endand flares toward its diametrically larger or outer end. Said casing(See Fig. 1) is provided at its diametrically larger or outer end with alens 18 which is rem'ovably secured in place in any approved manner.Said lens is arranged in a vertical position and faces rearwardly inrelation to the vehicle, for the purpose of indicating or signaling, todrivers of following vehicles upon the required illumination of the lensat the inner side of the lens, that movement of the signaling vehicle isbeing slowed or about to be arrested. Obviously the lens,

were it composed of light-transmitting redglass, would indicate dangerupon the required illumination. An incandescent electric lamp, havingits glass bulb 19 arranged internally of the casing 17, is employed inilluminating the lens 18, and said lamp is applied at its base to thehereinafter described socket, and said base (see Fig. 3) comprises anouter circumferentially extending metal shell 20 forming one of theterminals of said base and embracing a body of insulating material 21which insulates said shell from the other or central terminalformingcontact 22 of said base, and the lastmentioned contact protrudes at theouter end of said base.

The casing 17 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 9) is provided at its diametricallysmaller or inner end and internally with an annular flange 23 theinternal diameter of which measures enough more than the externaldiameter of the hereinbefore mentioned lampbase to permit theapplication and removal of said base through the space surrounded bysaid flange.

My improved socket comprises an externally circular insulating body 25arranged externally of the casing 17 at the outer side of and concentricin relation to the flange 23 and secured in place as will hereinafterappear. The insulating body 25 has a central opening 26 which registerswith the space surrounded by the flange 23 and extends through said bodyendwise of the socket. Said opening has the dimensions and contourrequired to permit the hereinbefore mentioned lamp-base to extend end.-wise therethrough, and in Figs. 1 and 3 said base is shown extendingthrough said openmg.

The insulating body 25 abuts at its inner end face against the flange23, and a rigid tubular metal shell 27 is arranged at and preferablyabuts against the opposite end face of said body. The shell 27 isdiametrically smaller than the insulating body 25 and in line endwisewith and concentric in relation to the opening 26, and has thedimensions, contour and arrangement required to receive the hereinbeforementioned lampbase through said opening. The shell 27 forms one of thecontacts of my improved socket, and a metal plate 28, which is appliedas will hereinafter appear and insu lated from said shell, forms theother contact of said socket and has a resilient member 30 extendingopposite and spaced from the outer end of said shell and yieldableendwise of the socket. Said resilient member 30 is arranged to bepressed or moved somewhat outwardly, against the action of itsresilience, by the central contact 22 of the lamp-base during theinsertion of said base into place within the socket comprising theinsulating body 25 and the shell 27. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 said base isshown inserted into place within said socket. Figs. 1 and 3 show theterminal-forming shell 20 of said base as having a snug sliding fitinternally of the socket-member 27 and therefore in electrical,

engagement with said socket-member. Figs. 1 and 3 show the centralcontact 22 of said base in electrical engagement with the resilientmember 30. It will be observed there fore that the metal shell orcontact 27 of the socket is arranged to be electrically engaged by oneof the terminals of the lamp-base, and is adapted to be electricallyconnected to one of the terminals of an electric battery (not shown) orother source of electrical energy through the medium of acurrent-conduct ing wire 31 applied as will hereinafter appear, and thatthe other contact (28 and 30) of the socket is arranged to beelectrically engaged by the other terminal of the lampbase and adaptedto be electrically connected, as will hereinafter appear,.with theflange 23 and consequently with the casing 17 which is adapted to beelectrically connected in any approved manner, and preferably throughthe medium of an electrical'connection comprising the bracket 16 andfender 15, with the other terminal of the aforesaid electrical source.Obviously therefore the electric circuit including theincandescentelectric lamp isbroken when said lamp is removed from the illustratedsocket, and that when the base of said lamp is in place within saidsocket, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, said circuit is closed as requiredto light the bulb of the lampand thereby to illuminate the signaling orsign-forming lens 18.

The metal shell 27 of the socket (see Fig. 9) is provided at its innerend, and consequently adjacent the outer end face of the insulating body25, with a circumferentially extending flange 32 abutting against saidbody. The insulating body 25 is provided at its outer end face with twointegral tubular insulating projections 33 which are substantiallyparallel with the shell 27 and spaced circumferentially of said shelland extend through the flange 32 and beyond the outer side of saidflange. The flange 32 closely embraces the projections 33 so that saidprojections prevent circumferential displacement of and support theshell 27 and positively maintain said shell in accurate alinement withthe opening 26 in the insulating body 25. It will be observed thereforethat the shell 27 has portions formed by the flange 32 and embracing theprojections 33 at the inner extremities of said projections. Eachprojection 33 is closely embraced, at the outer side of said flange 32,by a rigid insulating washer 35 which abuts against said side of saidflange and is thick enough to extend beyond the outer-end of saidprojection. Each projection 33 em-. braces the shank 36 of a bolt whichis substantially parallel withv the socket and has a head 37 arrangedinternally of the casing 17 and abutting against the inner side of theflange 23 of said casing. Obviously therefore each bolt-shank 36 extendsthrough the flange -23,throngh and from end-to end of the insulatingbodyxand through the proj ection 33 embracing saidzshankand through theinsulating washer 35 zembracing said projection, beyond the outer sideof said w-asher.- Eachwasher 35 ('see'Figs. 2, .9

I and 11;) extends .to and embraces the adjacent portionof the'shell 27which is there fore reinforced externally :by: said washer,

and said :shell prevents displacement of said Washer circumferentiallyof the bolt surrounded by said washers At the outer side oft-"heinsulating washer 35 on the shank 36 of one bolt (see Figs. .1, 3 and 9)is a nut 38 which is threaded onto said shank, and obviously, uponmanipulating said nut during the assemblage of the parts as required totighten it in relation to said washer,said washer, the flange :32 of theshell-27, the insulating body :25, .and the flange 23 of the casing 17arerclamped together by andbetween said nut and the head 37 of saidbolt,

tioned bolt. Obviously, upon manipulatingthe nut 39 during theassemblage of the parts as required to tighten it in relation to theplate 28, said plate, the adjacent washer 35,

. j the flange 82, the insulating body 25 and the fiange23 are clampedtogether by and between said nut and the head 37 of the lastmentionedbolt. The plate 28 is provided,

between the nut 39 and the shell 27, with an integral wing, 29 whichprojects in the direction of and beyond the outer end of said shell andterminates in the "resilient'member 30 of the contact comprising saidwinged plate. The plate '28 (seeFigs. 9 and 11.) has a flange 40overlapping the adjacent portion of an edge of the adjacent washer 35,and said edge and said flange are arranged to prevent displacement ofsaid plate circumferentially of the bolt on which said plate is mounted.:By the construction hereinbefore described :it will be observed thatthe nut 38 onone bolt isi spaced from the 'the mediumof thenut 39 andengaging bolt,

to the casing 17,:1and that the projections 33 insulatethexshell27'zfromthebolts and consequently from said casing.

The hereinbeforewmentioned wire 31 (see Figs. land'2') extendsithroughathole 41 which is formed in: the insulating body 25 and extends fromthe outer circumference of said insulating body inwardly and toward theshell 27'and to the outer end face ofsaid body, and is in electricalengagement with the flange 32 of said shell and secured to said flangeby a screw 42.

Accidental detachment of the lamp-base from the socket is prevented bythe conventional bayonetfjoint formed between said base and the shell27, andtherefore said base, to detach'it from the socket, has to bemanipulated as required to give it a part of onecomplete rotation in therequired direction as well as longitudinal movement; The formation ofbayonet joints is too well understood to require description in detailin.thisspecilication. Suffice it to state (see Figs. 1 2, 6,7 and 8)that preferably the I contact-forming shell 20 of the lamp-base isprovided externally with two metal pins or projections spacedcircumferentially of said shell, and that said shell at each projection43 has a slot .45 which extends cii'cumierentially of'said base in there quireddirection'from said projection which abuts against the adjacentend wall of said slottand preferably alsoaagainst the outer side of theflange 32, and the. resilient mem ber 30 acts to maintain thelamp-basein position with said projection in contact with saidfiange and saidwall, so that a very effective electrical connection between r themembers 20 and 27 at one end of said slot is insured. Each slot 4C5extends at its opposite'endto the inner'extremity of the shell 27 andregisters at said end with a groove i6 formed in the surrounding wall ofthe opening 26" in the insulating body 25 and extending from end to endof said body, as shown in Fig. 7. Said groove also registers at theouter end face of said insulating body 25 with a slot- 47 formed in theflange'32 and forming an extension of the adjacent slot 4:5 in the shell27, and said slot at? in said flange and said groove 46 have thedimensions and arrangement required to permit the adjacent projection 43to pass through said flange and through said insulating body during theapplication and removalot the lamp-base from the'socket.

My improvedsocket also comprises a re.- movable protective cap 50 which(see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) has a snug sliding fit on and embraces theinsulating body 25 and abuts at its inner end against the casing 17which forms a stop for limiting movement of the cap in sliding the caponto said body. Preferably the relative contour and dimensions of thediametrically smaller end of the casing 17 and the inner end of the cap50 aresuch that said cap not onlynbuts against said casing butcloselyembraces said end of said casing. and by this construction a desirableoint 1S termed between the cap and said casing, and the internal flange23 of said end of sa1d casings arranged wholly lnternally of the innerend portion of said cap'as desired to elfect a simple and compactassemblage of the parts. Said cap has the dimensions required to bespaced at its outer end from the resilient member 30 and to form a'housing'in which parts to be protected such, for instance, as the shell27 and its flange 32, the washers 85, the nuts 88 and 39 and adjacentportions ofthe engag ing bolts, the contact comprising the resil-- ientmember 30, and the outer end portion of the lamp-base, are inclosed'andadequately protected by said cap against the weather and againstaccidental injury, and dust and dirt are excluded from said parts bysaid cap. Obviously by my improved construction little space is requiredbetween 20 the cap 50 and the fender 15 for the removal and applicationof the cap. Improved means for preventing accidental detachment of thecap 50 from the insulating body 25 are provided and illustrated in Figs.1, 2, 4 and 5, and comprise recesses 51 which are formed, at the outercircumference of the inner endface of said insulating body, in andspaced circumterentially of said body. Each recess 51 is enlarged'at oneend endwise of the insulating body 25, as at 52, so that at said endsaid recess extends to the outer end face of said body, and said recessis spaced between its enlarged end 52 and its opposite end from saidface. The recesses 51 extend from their enlarged ends 52circumferentially of the insulating body 25 in the same direction,and'the bottoms 53 of said recesses extend from said ends of saidrecesses toward the outer circumference of said body in said directionand form inclines. The cap 50 is provided, internally and at each recess51, with a'projection 55 formed'by an inwardly offset portion of the capand tightly engaging the incline-torming bottom 58 of said recess. Fig.a shows the bottom 53 of a recess 51 tightly engaged by a projection 55,and Fig. 5 shows the cap as having been manipulated as required toloosen said projection in relation to said bottom. The relativearrangement or" the parts is such that the cap 50 is free to be removedfrom the insulating body 25 upon rotating the cap in the direction andthe extent required to'bring its projections 55 into engagement with thehereinbeiore mentioned enlarged ends of the recesses 51, and saidenlarged ends of said recesses are large enough in dimensions to permitsaid projections to pass therethrough during the re.-

moval or application of the cap. Said cap" has a slot 56 registeringwith the outerend of the hole 41 in the insulating body 25 and extendingendwise of the cap and arranged to permit the extension of the wire 31through said slot into said hole 521, and said slot'exten'ds to theinner- 'extremity of the cap to prevent interference by said wire Withthe removal of the cap.

l Vhat I claim;is'

l. A socket for an incandescent electric lamp comprising-an externallycircular insulating body having an opening which extends through saidbody endwise of the socket andis adapted to receive the base ofsaidlamp, a metal shell Which is opposite ne end'face of said insulatingbody and arranged and adapted to receive sald base through said openingandforms one contact of the socket, a resilientmember lnsulatedfroni'said'shell and participating in tom whi h extends toward'saidcircumfer ence in the direction of the last-mentioned end of the recess,and the cap being provided internally with a projection engaging saidbottom. r

2. A socket for an incandescent electric lamp comprising an externallycircular insulating body having aniopening which extends through saidbody endwiseof the socket and is adapted to receive the base of saidlamp, a metal shell which is contiguous at one-end to one end face ofsaid insulating body and arranged and adapted to receive said basethrough said opening and forms one contact'of the socket, a resilientmember participating in the formation o1 the other contact otthe socket,and a removable cap housing and spaced from said shell and saidresilientmember and embracing the aforesaidinsulating body, said body beingprovided at its outer circumference 'with circumferentially spacedrecesses having enlarged ends extending to the aforesaid face, saidrecesses extending from their enlarged ends circumferentially of thelast-mentioned face in the same direction, the bottoms of said recessesextending toward the outer circumference of said insulating body in saiddirection, and the cap being provided internally with projectionsengaging said bottoms.

3. A socket for an incandescent electric lamp comprising an insulatingbody having. an opening which extends through said body endwise of thesocket and is adapted to receive thebase of s'aid'lamp', a metal shellarranged and adapted to receive said base through said opening andforming one contact of the socket, and a resilient member participatingin the formation of the other contact of the socket and insulated fromsaid shell and adapted to be electrically connected to one of theterminals of a source of electrical energy, anda removable capsurrounding-and spaced from and housing said shell and said resilientmember and embracing the aforesaid insulating body, said body having ahole extending from the outer circumference of said body inwardly andtoward said shell to receive a current-conducting wire adapted to beemployed in electrically connecting said shell with the other terminalof said electrical source,said cap having a slot which extends endwiseof and to the inner extremity of the cap and is arranged to permit theextension of the aforesaid wire into the aforesaid hole from theexterior of the cap.

4. A socket for an incandescent electric lamp comprising an insulatingbody having a central opening which extends through said body endwise ofthe socket and is adapted to receive the base of said lamp, a metalshell which is arranged in line endwise with and concentric in relationto said opening and smaller diametrically than and held to saidinsulating body and arranged and adapted to receive the aforesaid basethrough said opening and forms one contact of the socket, and aresilient member insulated from said shell and participating in theformation of the other contact of the socket, said shell being providedat the adjacentend face of the aforesaid insulating body with anexternal circumferentially extending flange abutting against said face,and'said body having projections which are spaced circumferentially ofsaid shell and project into and are embraced by-said flange.

5. In combination, an insulating body having an opening adapted toreceive the base of an incandescent lamp, a metal shell which is in lineendwise with said opening and adapted to receive said base through saidopening and forms one contact of the socket,

said insulating body having projections which are substantially parallelwith and spaced circumferentially of said shell, and said shell havingportions embracing the inner end portions and said projections, of rigidinsulating members embracing the outer end portions of said projectionsand extending to and embracing the adjacent portions of said shell.

6. In combination, a casing adapted to extend circumferentially of anincandescent electric lamp and considerably larger in diameter at oneend than at its other end and having an internal annular flange at itsdiametrically smaller end, an insulating body arranged at the outer sideof said flange and having an opening adapted to receive the base of saidlamp, a metal shell at the outer end face of said insulating body andinsulated from the aforesaid casing and adapted to receive said basethrough said opening and forming a contact adapted to be engaged by oneterminal of said base, a resilient member insulated from said shell andforming a contact adapted to be engaged by the other terminal of said'base, and means whereby said resilient member, said shell, theaforesaid insulating body and the aforesaid flange are secured together.I

7. In combination, a casing adapted to extend circumferentially of anincandescent electric lamp and considerably larger in diameter at oneend than at the other end and having an internal annular flange at itsdiametrically smaller end, an insulating body arranged at the outer sideof said flange and having an opening adapted to receive the base of saidlamp, a metal shell at the outer end face of said insulating body andinsulated from the aforesaid casing and adapted to receive said basethrough said opening and forming a contact adapted to be engaged by oneterminal of said base, a resilient member insulated from said shell andforming a contact adapted to be engaged by the other terminal of saidbase, means whereby said resilient member, said shell, the aforesaidinsulating body and the aforesaid flange are secured together, and aremovable cap housing said shell HIId'SiLlClIGSIllBIIt member andembracing said insulatingbody and the diametrically smaller end of theaforesaid casing.

8. The combination, with a'casing adapted 'to'extend circumferentiallyofan incandescent electric lamp, an insulating body arranged externally ofand abutting against said casing andhaving an opening adapted to permitthe base of said lamp to extend therethrough, a metal shell arranged andadapted to receive "said base through said opening arid forming onecontact of the socket, and bolts spaced circumferentially of said shelland connected to the aforesaid casing and extending endwise of thesocket and through said insulating body, said body being provided ateach bolt with a tubular in sulating projection which embraces said boltand is embraced by a portion of said shell, and said bolt extendingbeyond the outer end of said projection, of an insulating washer mountedon said projection at the outer side of the last-mentioned portion ofsaid shell and thick enough to extend beyond the outer end of saidprojection, a nut threaded onto said bolt adjacent the outer side ofsaid insulating washer, and a member forming the other contact of thesocket and interposed between the nut on one bolt and the adjacentinsulating washer and spaced from the aforesaid shell.

9. The combination, with a metal casing adapted to extendcircumferentially of an incandescent electric lamp and having aninternal flange atone end, an insulating body arranged at the outer sideof said casingflange and having an opening adapted to receive the baseof said lamp, a contact-forming'metal shell at the outer end face ofsaid insulating body and arranged and adapted to receive said basethrough said opening, and spaced bolts connected to the aforesaid flangeand extending endwise of the socket and through said insulating body,said body being provided, at its outer end face adjacent each bolt, withan integral tubular projection embracing said bolt, the aforesaid shellhaving a portion embracing said projection at said face, and said boltextending beyond the outer end of said projection, of an insulatingwasher mounted on said projection at the outer side of said portion ofsaid shell, a nut threaded onto said bolt adjacent the outer side ofsaid washer and spaced from said projection, and a contactforming memberinterposed between the nut on one bolt and the adjacent insulatingWasher and spaced from the aforesaid shell.

10. The combination, with a metal casing adapted to extendcircumferentially of an incandescent electric lamp, an insulating bodyexternally of and rigid with said casing and having an opening toreceive the base of said lamp, a metal shell at the outer end face ofsaid insulating body and arranged and adapted to receive said basethrough said opening and forming a contact arranged to be electricallyengaged by one terminal of said base, and spaced bolts connected to theaforesaid casing and extending endwise of the socket and through saidinsulating body, said body being provided, at its outer end .faceadjacent each bolt, with an insulating tubular projection embracing saidbolt and embraced at said face by a portion of said shell, and said boltextending beyond the outer end of said projection, of an insulatingWasher mounted on said projection at the outer side of said portion ofsaid shell, a nut threaded onto said bolt adjacent the outer side ofsaid washer, and a metal plate between the nut on one bolt and theadjacent washer and spaced from the aforesaid shell and having anintegral wing which is arranged between said nut and said shell andterminates in a member engageable by the other terminal of the aforesaidbase.

11. The combination, with a casing adapted to extend circumferentiallyof an incandescent electric lamp, an insulating body externally of andrigid with said casing and having an opening adapted to receive the baseof said lamp, a metalshell adapted to receive said base through saidopening and forming a contact for one terminal of said base, and spacedbolts connected to the aforesaid casing and extending endwise of thesocket, the aforesaid insulating body being provided, at the inner endof said shell adjacent each bolt, with an integral tubular projectionwhich embraces said bolt and is embraced by a portion of said shell, ofa rigid insulating washer mounted on said projection at the outer sideof said portion of said shell, a nut threaded onto said bolt adjacentthe outer side of said washer, and a metal plate between the nut on onebolt and the adjacent washer and having a member engageable by the otherterminal of the aforesaid base, the last-mentioned washer having an edgeembracing the aforesaid shell, said plate having a flange overlappinganother edge of said last-mentioned washer, and the last-mentioned edgeand said flange being arranged to prevent displacement of said platecircumferentially of the last-mentioned bolt. 7

In testimony whereof, I sign the foregoing specification, this 15th dayof February, 1921.

OSCAR KROEHLE.

